Four States, One Family: A Tri-State Service to Remember

Brooklyn | Weekly Recap

We came together in Brooklyn this week for our Tri-State regional service — and as it turned out, four states showed up. New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania were all in the building, worshipping God together. That alone set the tone for what was ahead.

The Welcome

Cory and Jee Blackwell opened with a brief but powerful charge drawn from the Psalms. It was exactly what a gathering like this needed — grounding, inspiring, and energizing. The crowd was on its feet early.

From there, brothers and sisters representing each region, city, and state took turns leading us in prayer. We prayed for our brothers and sisters in churches across the Middle East, and we prayed for the hearts in that very room. There's something remarkable about standing in one space with people from four states and lifting your voice to God as one family.

The Best Part of Service: The Announcements

Yes, you read that right. The announcements were the highlight — and if you were there, you know exactly why.

We were introduced to two sisters who were baptized earlier this month. Then, right there on the sidewalk outside, the baptismal was set up and four more people — two brothers and two sisters — were baptized. Every single time, it never gets old. Watching God grow His family is one of the most beautiful things we get to witness.

One moment stood out above the rest: Victor was baptized today. His wife and sister had been baptized just the week before. And in a moment that left the room speechless, Brian — who had just come up out of the water himself — turned around and baptized his wife Ricky. She shared afterward that truly knowing Jesus is what set her free.

Physical families becoming spiritual families together. There are no words.

Communion

Lynda Moreno led us through communion with a message on unity through forgiveness — rooted in the truth that Jesus gave us the glory of God. She was vulnerable and real about what that looks like in her own life right now. Forgiving someone who is unapologetic about what they've done is one of the hardest things any of us will face. Lynda shared honestly about how God met her in that exact place. It challenged and encouraged everyone in the room.

Contribution

Michael Kirshner shared a financial presentation showing exactly where the money we give toward missions goes. One number stopped the room: over 6,000 members of our spiritual family around the world are supported by the contributions we send overseas. If you've ever wondered whether your giving matters — now you know.

The Lesson: Carrying the Cross

The sermon opened with a line you don't hear in church very often:

"Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth." — Mike Tyson

From there, Raul Moreno preached a four-point lesson on suffering — and more specifically, on what it means to carry your cross. He walked us through the story of Simon of Cyrene, the man who literally helped Jesus carry His cross to Calvary. Your cross is whatever your version of suffering looks like in this season. Raul challenged us to stop running from it and start viewing it through God's lens.

It's not easy. But 1 Corinthians 10:13 reminds us that God will never allow us to face more than we can handle — with Him. The key is that last part.

God is moving in New York City.

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